4. Pete Carmichael
Current Job: Denver Broncos Senior Offensive Assistant
Carmichael is near the end of his first season as a senior offensive assistant in Denver, back under Sean Payton, his long-time boss with the New Orleans Saints.
Carmichael came to New Orleans in 2006 to be the quarterbacks coach, and he was there through the 2023 season. He was the offensive coordinator from 2009 through last season, and a key figure in some of the best offenses in the league for many years when Drew Brees was the quarterback.
Brees retired after the 2020 season, and the Saints offense had a natural drop-off. Payton left after the first post-Brees year, leaving Carmichael as the play-caller for an increasingly talent-bare offense. His being fired obscures the fact the Saints had the ninth-best scoring offense in the league in 2023.
As should be obvious by this point, Carmichael's lengthy tenure in New Orleans means he overlapped with Campbell for five seasons (2016-2020) on Payton's staff there. That familiarity could at least foster an interview for the offensive coordinator post in Detroit if Johnson departs.
3. Ronald Curry
Current job: Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach
The cleaning out of the offensive staff in New Orleans after the 2023 season led to Curry landing in Buffalo as the quarterbacks coach. He had spent eight seasons with the Saints (2016-2023), as a general offensive assistant, wide receivers coach and quarterbacks coach before adding passing game coordinator to his title for his last two years there.
Last year, with the ever-mediocre Derek Carr under center and nothing consistent other than Chris Olave at wide receiver, the Saints were top-12 in the league in passing touchdowns (28) and adjusted yards per attempt (7.1). As passing game coordinator, Curry deserves some credit for that.
Like Carmichael, Curry has history with Campbell from back on Payton's staff in New Orleans. He has never been an offensive coordinator or a play caller before, but if Johnson leaves the Lions an interview to replace him could come Curry's way.